Lance Justice was inducted into the 2016 Caduceus Club Living Legend. Photo by Michael Howard
Lance Justice’s status as a legendary driver and trainer has been set in stone.
The Melton veteran of harness racing was inducted as a 2016 Caduceus Club Living Legend, recognition for more than 44 years in the industry.
“It’s a great award. It’s a fantastic award. To be honoured by your peers is the biggest accolade you can get,” Justice said.
Announced at the MCG after the Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup barrier draw, Justice was the 24th inductee into the award, hailed for training 19 and driving 17 Group 1s.
Five times the leading metropolitan trainer since moving to Melbourne near the turn of the century, Justice started driving at age 14 in South Australia, driving his first winner at age 22.
After great success from humble beginnings in South Australia, which included seven wins in one meet and a super pacer in Whirley Dream, Justice moved to Victoria with brother John at the turn of the century and produced two of the sport’s great champions.
In Sokyola, Justice landed what was thought to be the horse of a lifetime, having guided the chestnut gelding to almost $1.9 million in stakes.
Sokyola’s 161 starts yielded 78 wins, including being first passed the post in the 2003 and 2004 Miracle Miles, and the 2004 Sew-Eurodrive Cup.
“It was probably the biggest thrill to win the Miracle Mile in Sokyola,” Justice said. “The hardest thing about the Miracle Mile is getting a run.”
It was a brilliant career that Justice would soon surpass with Smoken Up, which won more than $3.6 million in prizemoney, having produced 74 wins from 153 starts including the Miracle Mile in 2010 and 2011, and the 2011 Victoria Cup.
Smoken Up produced 12 Group 1 wins, tying with Lombo Pocket Watch for the most ever.
Media enquiries:
MICHAEL HOWARD
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL CONTENT CO-ORDINATOR
HARNESS RACING VICTORIA
PO BOX 184, MOONEE PONDS, VIC 3039
400 EPSOM ROAD, FLEMINGTON, VIC 3031
t: 03 8378 0286 | f: 03 9214 0699 | e: mhoward@hrv.org.au
www.hrv.org.au
